With Messi and Ronaldo gone, Eden Hazard can now shine

ALSO READ: Honda, Hasebe call time on worldwide career Of course, it can be argued that Korea had reached the semis in 2002 as co-hosts.

However, the effect of his exit will be lessened once the Saints round-off negotiations to sign FC Basel forward Mohamed Elyounoussi, as the club near a £16 million deal, according to Sky Sports.

And Brazil enters Monday's match against Mexico having won 19 of its 24 matches under manager Tite.

Japan's national football team and its fans suffered a massive heartbreak on Monday night, losing to a last-gasp Belgium goal that shattered its hopes of reaching the World Cup 2018 quarter-finals. I did the best I could. The ones who played against England got a good experience, and the ones that have been rested, it's like they've been waiting to get back on the pitch. "Eden Hazard is probably the best young player in the world with legs to go there, but give him time".

It's also little surprise that the rise in Asian nations being competitive at the World Cup coincided with an increase in spots that began with the four nations that gathered in Korea and Japan in 2002.

Not since Portugal in 1966 has a team come back from two goals down to win a game in the final phases; Eusebio's men on that occasion recovering to defeat North Korea in the quarter-final stage. "I am devastated", he said.

Belgium, for all the talent it showed in winning its group, faced lingering questions about whether it had the mental toughness to go much beyond that.

"Japan is totally different to Wales (the side that eliminated Belgium from the 2016 Euros), and we'll take this as seriously as possible".

"We started off very well, but at the end, right at the end, to have conceded a goal like that, it was not expected", a grim but collected Nishino told reporters.